Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

151 reviews

zoegg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

my goodness this story. i actually dropped this book previously because i really struggled with the pacing and the lack of connection i felt to the characters in the first third of the book, but i am SO GLAD i decided to give it another chance.

this story so beautifully depicts the ebbing of trauma not just on an individual level, but across a whole community. i was so heartbroken for jeju as a whole, and for young-sook and mi-ja — it felt like there was always too much time (for more hurt) and never enough (to learn to overcome it). watching young-sook grow from a teenager to eventually be a grandma was spectacular, and i felt so connected to her at the end that i could not believe that her story ended with this book. 

if the pacing was a bit better, this would be an easy 4 (if not 4.5), but i am still so so glad to have finished this and highly recommend others give it a try :)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation

inkdrinkermal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I learned a lot and it was a captivating story, but it was so horrific and upsetting, and pointlessly so in many ways. I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed it, even though it was well written and educational and held my attention. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, and War

There are several depcitions of rape and a child is brutally murdered on page. There is also a drowning that occurs on page.

intoshadows's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is a powerful fiction take on true events and my goodness it was heartbreaking. It is steeped in culture and wonderful female roles and friendships and community. The island is torn over and over again and the wounds you can feel on the page but still, despite the horrors, you understand character motivations. 

I wish humans were capable of inflicting such terrors upon one another. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder

josiemi's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is beautifully written, exceptionally brilliant and tragic, and highlights what it means to love and be loved… the best and worst and hardest parts of loving someone.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, and Sexual assault

kanderson246's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and War

smstevens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lngoldstein's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, and War

entropyseeker's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

There's so much loss and grief in this book, but to be able to read about what happened on Jeju through the lens of haenyeo was touching, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Definitely read the tw though 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War

caitlinriach's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and War

nevermindmp3's review against another edition

4.0

Beautiful. I’ve been interested in haenyeo for a while now, as a female diver myself. Learning about their history and their customs through this beautifully narrated fictional story was great. Learning about Korea’s gruesome history through the Japanese occupation and the Civil War was also incredibly valuable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and War

Minor: Rape